Mudslides on fire-scarred land in the eastern Sierra Nevada forced people from their homes, while milder weather in Northern California helped firefighters get a leg up on blazes there and allowed residents of several fire-weary towns to return home.

More Californians returned Monday to homes they fled when wildfires threatened, and a scenic coastal highway was open to traffic again as a slight improvement in weather eased the burden on firefighters.

Federal rangeland managers said continuing to allow cattle to graze on the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument is harming the rare plants, fish and wildlife the monument was created eight years ago to protect.

For Clay and Nancy Henphill, running from raging wildfires has become nearly routine. For the second time in just over two weeks, they were forced to evacuate their home after fire officials ordered 10,000 people in the Sierra Nevada foothills to flee ahead of a wind-whipped blaze, one of about 40 lightning-sparked wildfires that have charred more than 76 square miles in Butte County.